Networked sound masking system with centralized sound masking generation

a sound masking and networked technology, applied in the field of sound masking, can solve the problems of reducing the comfort level of acoustic perception, reducing speech privacy, and high noise distraction level
US20090116659A1Inactive Publication Date: 2009-05-07777388 ONTARIO
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
777388 ONTARIO
Publication Date
2009-05-07
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A sound masking system for shaping the ambient noise level in a physical environment. The sound masking system comprises a networked and distributed system having a number of master units coupled together and to a control unit. One or more of the master units may include satellite sound masking units which function to reproduce an audio signal generated by a central sound masking module. The audio signal comprises a sound masking signal, a paging signal or a sound masking signal mixed with a paging signal. The sound masking signal is generated by the central sound masking module or a selected from a number of sound masking signal inputs at the control unit. Each of the master units is addressable over the network by the control unit enabling the control unit to control the contour, spectral band, and gain characteristics of the audio output signal. The system may also include a remote control unit which provides the capability to tune and adjust each master sound masking unit in situ without requiring physical access through the ceiling installation.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to sound masking, and more particularly to a networked system with centralized sound masking generation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Sound masking systems are widely used in offices and similar workplaces where an insufficient level of background sound results in diminished speech privacy. Such environments suffer from a high level of noise distractions, and lower comfort levels from an acoustic perspective. Sound masking systems operate on the principle of masking which involves generating a background sound in a given area. The background sound has the effect of limiting the ability to hear two sounds of similar sound pressure level and frequency simultaneously. By generating and distributing the background noise in the given area, the sound masking system masks or covers the propagation of other sounds in the area and thereby increases speech privacy, reduces the intrusion of unwanted noise, and improves the general ac...

Claims

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